Austin American Statesman Op-Ed by CTI Leader Diane Owens Prettyman, All Saints Episcopal Church

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds."

— Hebrews, 10:24

Social justice movements begin close to home — in our families, neighborhoods, cities, and states — before spreading across the nation and the world. When people of faith join together to advocate for change, they discover the strength that comes from becoming one body with many members.

Uniting leaders from a local soccer club, HBCU, and historic Black and Latino churches, Central Texas Interfaith won approval for a city-sponsored park on Austin’s East Side with a full soccer field and facilities, helping end decades of disinvestment rooted in redlining.

Despite the City of Austin's goal of having a park within a 10-minute walk of every resident, there’s a stark difference between the trails and outdoor space enjoyed by wealthy residents and the unmarked lots in under-resourced neighborhoods. This divide became tragically clear during the pandemic, when East and South Side residents faced higher COVID-19 death rates and lacked local outdoor infrastructure for safe social distancing and community building.

To tackle this persistent issue, Central Texas Interfaith (CTI) launched a city-wide listening campaign in 2022. This was part of the first national funding initiative in the U.S. dedicated to supporting community-based power-building to reverse green space inequities.